Big Bammy's Blog: 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

#BBB NEWS| Bill Cosby’s Attorney Speaks Out Against Felony Charges [VIDEO]

News broke on Wednesday (Dec. 30), that famed actor/comedian Bill Cosby was arraigned on three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

The result stemmed from a 2004 case with former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, who said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at his home in Elkins Park, Penn.

A day following the court proceedings, the 78-year-old’s attorney, Monique Pressley, is speaking out against the ruling. “If you look at the deposition you will see that there is no admission of criminal wrongdoing with respect to Mr. Cosby,” she said.

Pressley later stated her client has been “accused unjustly of a crime,” and “there will be no consideration on our part of any sort of arrangement.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has said he would dismiss any member of his cabinet involved in corruption.

He said the details on his administration’s anti-corruption campaign would become clearer at the end of the first quarter of 2016.

The president was speaking Wednesday during his administration’s maiden media chat.

He said the government would work with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that the truth is known.

“I feel that Nigerians have to know the truth, and the truth in terms of what has been recovered; in terms of bank statement, where the money was sourced, where it was lodged, how much; whether it is money from NNPC or directly from central bank. When we do that, I feel Nigerians will feel better,” said Mr. Buhari.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has indirectly challenged Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, to visit the north-eastern parts of Nigeria where the war on terror is ongoing.

Mohammed, who spoke in an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday, in Ikeja, insisted that the war against terror had been largely won by the country’s troops.

He insisted that the Boko Haram sect had been reduced to a “fleeing, bomb-throwing, cowardly and disorganised army’’.

A few days ago, the Ekiti State governor had challenged Mohammed, whom he told to visit the Sambisa Forest, which is regarded as a stronghold of the sect.

Fayose had said, “Nigerians will only take the minister serious if he relocates to either Sambisa in Borno State or to Yobe State and stay there till the end of March, next year, without heavy military security.”

The Peoples Democratic Party alleged on Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja, also said the President confirmed his alleged partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

Metuh said the President’s attitude showed his true colours as unrepentant dictator.

He also said it was wrong for the President to have condemned those undergoing trial for alleged corruption.

He said, “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant.

Following an arraignment Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 30), a judge presiding over Bill Cosby’s 2004 sexual assault case handed down a $1 million bail note for the 78-year-old, who was also ordered to turn over his passport, ABC News reports.

Cosby was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault following a January 2004 case that involved the alleged sexual assault and drugging of former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand.

During a press conference held earlier, First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said, “We examined all the evidence and we made this determination because it was the right thing to do.”

Chris Brown’s seventh solo album Royalty, named after his cutiepatootie daughter, has found its way to the top of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop charts making it Breezy’s sixth number one record.

The 14-track album, which features single “Sex You Back To Sleep” “Zero” “Liquor” and “Fine By Me” sold 162,000 copies the week ending December 24.

Idris Elba and David Oyelowo received a high honor from Queen Elizabeth Tuesday (December 29) when both actors made the Queen’s annual New Year’s honor list.

Elba, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the Netflix original film Beast of No Nation and BBC’s Luther, was humbled by the honor.

“Awards and honors come in all shapes and sizes and all as significant as the other. But this is beyond special as it comes from Queen and country, and I couldn’t be more proud for receiving this right now. What a year. On me head son!” Elba said in a statement.

President Muhammadu Buhari fielded questions from representatives of four local media organizations at his first televised media chat in Nigeria since his inauguration on May 29, 2015.

Journalists from Premium Times, Channels TV, Media World International, and The Daily Trust asked President Buhari questions for about two hours on topics ranging from the ongoing fight against Boko Haram, his anti-corruption policy, devaluation of the Naira, the minimum wage, to Nigeria’s overall fiscal condition.

Mr. Buhari used the highly anticipated platform to offer a rare glimpse into his thoughts on pressing issues in Nigeria, including the Nigerian army’s recent massacre of members of the Shiite sect in Zaria, the role of the Department of State Services (DSS) in re-arresting both Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki, and the need for anti-corruption agencies to present credible documents and evidence to courts in prosecuting alleged corruption by public officials.

#BBB NEWS| FG To Create 1m Direct Jobs In 2016

For the first time in Nigeria's budgetary history, the federal government would be directly intervening in lifting people out of poverty through a series of measures already proposed in the 2016 budget that is now before the National Assembly.

Explaining details of the social investment plans announced by the President last week while presenting the 2016 budget, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said "for the first time the budget is paying attention to the problem of poverty in a proper and direct way. We have decided to address poverty and youth unemployment."

Indeed by committing an unprecedented half a trillion Naira for social investment spendings and interventions, the Buhari administration is proposing to spend about 9% of the 2016 budget to address poverty issues directly.

The Vice President spoke yesterday -late Tuesday -in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso during an interactive session at the Nigerian embassy with Nigerians resident in the west African nation, where he had gone to participate in the installation of the new democratically elected president, Mr. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.

From Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna: The authorities of the Kaduna Convict Prison on Wednesday denied claims that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, was in the prison.

The Controller of the Kaduna Prisons, Abubakar Argungu, who denied the claims, however, said 191 members of the Islamic movement were in the custody of the prison.

Argungu said, “We only have 191 followers of the Shi’ite sects in our custody. But we do not have their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky with us.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it will soon name members of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the recent clash in Zaria between the Nigerian Army and Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria.

Another day, another tiny swimsuit for Rita Ora. And this time, it's an itsy bitsy teeny weeny polka dot bikini.

The X Factor judge has been making a splash in Miami thanks to an array of skimpy two-pieces and she was back to her best on Wednesday.

Rita showcased her shapely figure as she emerged from the water and strutted along the beach while adjusting her string pants. See more photos below..

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, has announced some key executive appointments and changes in its management structure.

Dr. Demola Sogunle has been named Deputy Chief Executive (Deputy Managing Director), Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC. He was until recently the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a position he had held since August 19, 2011.

Yewande Sadiku and Babatunde Macaulay have been appointed as Executive Directors, Corporate and Transactional Banking and Personal and Business Banking for Stanbic IBTC Bank respectively, while Eric Fajemisin and Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju were appointed Chief Executives for Stanbic IBTC Pensions Managers and Stanbic IBTC Asset Management respectively.

As Deputy Chief Executive of the Bank, Sogunle is expected to strengthen the executive team as the bank consolidates its growth strategy. He was formerly the Head of Treasury and Financial Services for the Bank, a position he held for over seven years. Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive of the Group’s Pension business, he was Stanbic IBTC Bank’s Head of Risk as well as its Chief Compliance Officer.

The third installment of J. Cole’s “Road to Homecoming” docu-series has arrived. This week’s airing takes viewers on stage and behind-the-scenes for a stop on the Dreamville cohort’s Dollar & A Dream tour, as well as a personal look when the 31-year-old dropped his debut album Cole World: The Sideline Story.

Kendrick Lamar, Wale, A$AP Ferg and Rihanna also make an appearance in the 30-minute visual, showcasing their support for the “Intro” rapper. “This is the sh*t they’re gonna remember forever,” Rih told her fellow Roc Nation signee after watching his performance.

The event is leading up to the HBO premiere of “Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming,” which will debut on Jan. 9.

Check out the footage below..

Reports have surfaced on Wednesday morning (Dec. 30), that famed actor/comedian Bill Cosby will face charges of an alleged sexual assault that occurred in January 2004, AP reports.

Montgomery County prosecutors in Norristown, Penn., arrived at this decision, marking this as the first criminal case against the 78-year-old since news of his reported use of drugs and sexual assault on multiple women came to light last year.

More than fifty women have shared their stories, including super model Beverly Johnson who recently received a countersuit from Cosby for “defamation of character.”

According to People, an arrest warrant has also been issued for Cosby in this sexual assault case, which involved a former Temple University employee, Andrea Constand, in 2004. The educator said Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her at his house in Elkins Park, Penn.

Agents of the Department of State Security (DSS) re-arrested former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki at the gates of Kuje Prison in Abuja yesterday.

Mr. Dasuki’s arrest comes just after he met the conditions of bail set by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The former NSA is at the center of an ever-expanding scandal involving the illegal diversion of billions of dollars during his tenure as NSA, much of which is now understood to have aided the presidential campaign of Goodluck Jonathan.

The stolen money, some of which was authorized by the former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was intended to purchase weapons to support the military’s fight against Boko Haram.

While Kanye West gifted his beloved with 150 Christmas gifts this year, it appears as if the SWISH artist earned a late, but sweet gift from the good folks over at GQ when they named him the most stylish man of 2015.

Although Mr. West was up against model Lucky Blue Smith and both gentlemen’s fans came out in droves to support, it was tweets from his wife, Kim, sister-in-law Khloe and Kris Jenner that titled the votes in his favor.

President Muhammadu Buhari will spend N18.1 billion on the Presidential Villa in 2016, which is more than the N11.5 billion spent by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

However, President Buhari does plan on spending less than Mr. Jonathan did on food for the first and second families.

It will be recalled that last week, President Buhari presented a N6.08 trillion budget to the National Assembly. The Buhari Administration has argued that most of the monies from the budget will go to the creation of more jobs and economic growth.

During a news conference in Abuja, on Tuesday, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, announced that as of January 1st, 2016 all retail stations owned by the National Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would sell petrol at N86 per litre while those independently owned would sell petrol at N86.5 per litre.

It will be recalled that SaharaReporters published a report which quoted Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum, as stating that the price per litre would be N85.

According to Mr. Ahmed, the new price was the result of a new template created by the PPPRA which is designed to calculate a fuel prices based upon market factors. He also noted that the price would be reviewed on a quarterly basis in order to adjust for changes in the price of crude oil.

“Since 2007, while crude oil price has been moving up and down the template remained the same.

Dear Mr Femi Fani-Kayode,

Like any other Nigerian, I read the impetuous and ill-thought out diatribe, from you, against President Muhammadu Buhari. I am writing as a concerned Nigerian; the presidential spokesmen are at liberty to respond to you in a manner they consider fitting and prosper.
When I read yours, my first reaction was like – oh, our brother has gone mad again! Of course, it is a veiled reference to the vestigial deleterious effect of prolonged and unrestrained dealing in harmful drugs. The manner of your summersaults – occasioned by the incoherence and irascibility manifested in yours to the President - is clear attestation to the permanence of the scar of previous contacts with drugs, irrespective of various rehabilitative interventions.

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.

Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.

He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.

The 48-year-old pro-Biafran agitation leader, who is, however, unapologetic about his demand for a Republic of Biafra, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his arrest in Lagos on October 14, 2015.

#BBB NEWS| Kaduna APC Suspends Senator Shehu Sani

The Tudun Wada ward of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, on Monday, suspended the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial zone, Shehu Sani, from the party.

The senator is a registered member of the party from the ward.

In a letter to the senator dated December 27, the party said the suspension is for a period of 11 months.

Mr. Sani was also banned from engaging in party activities in Kaduna State during the period of suspension.

The letter was signed by the Secretary of the ward, Ahmed Abdulhamid, the Public Relations Officer, Auwal Mai Anguwa, and ex-officio member, Aminu Alilan.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has berated the Minister of Information and Culture, Ahaji Lai Mohammed, for saying that Boko Haram terrorism had been technically defeated.

Fani-Kayode said this in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari which was posted on his official Facebook page.

He said the statement by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that Boko Haram had been technically defeated was misleading as terror attacks had worsened in recent times.

The former minister, who insisted that he was a ‘loyal subject’ of Buhari, asked the President to return to his ‘gallant ways’ as this was the only way to defeat insurgents.

He said it was unfortunate that Cameroonian soldiers invaded Gwoza Local Government in Borno State recently and killed over 70 civilians but that the military failed to repel the insurgents.

The popular streaming service Spotify has just been hit with a $150 million class action lawsuit over alleged unpaid royalties.

The suit was filed Monday (December 28th) by Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker in the Central District Court of California.

According to the firm’s founding member David Lowery, Spotify “knowingly, willingly, and unlawfully reproduces and distributes copyrighted compositions without obtaining mechanical licenses,” and they are seeking at least $150 million in damages.

Read more below..

From one basketball legend to another, Michael Jordan is wishing Kobe Bryant the best after his retirement from the NBA.

In a personal message played at the Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday (Dec. 29) before the Lakers faced-off against the Hornets, Jordan congratulated Bryant on his illustrious career.

He took a moment to remind fans of the 1996 draft that started it all.

“Most people don’t realize you were drafted by the Hornets,” Jordan said. “That connects us with you. I’ve always been like a big brother and you like a little brother.”

Acknowledging Bryant’s “competitive drive,” Jordan recalled his first game against the Lakers star, calling it “invigorating,” although the the “knowledge wasn’t quite there yet.” MJ also wished Bryant good luck in navigating his next undertaking, encouraging him to channel his competitive spirit into the next career he chooses. As for his mark on the sport, Jordan called himself a fan of Bryant, who he says has been a “big help” to basketball.

Although Christmas is not about the presents, Kanye West wanted to prove to wife Kim Kardashian how grateful he is to be with her this past Friday (Dec. 25). The Huffington Post reports that the American Idol hopeful bought 150 lavish gifts- which were all wrapped in a dark hue- for his lady love.

During a livestream on the family’s website Sunday (Dec. 27), Kim’s gifts from Yeezy almost covered one of the walls of a room in her sister Kourtney’s home.

“150 and counting…” momager Kris Jenner’s boyfriend Corey Gamble is heard saying in the video. Kim revealed that West had an assistant fly to Paris and shop for her gifts, and he shopped with her via Skype.

There’s four main things Floyd Mayweather likes to spend his money on; his kids, his women, cars and jewelry. The boxer took to his Instagram account and showed off his latest jewelry pieces and the price tag is insane!

According to TMZ Sports, the giant ring alone is 50 carats and smaller necklace is made of 74 diamonds, each one being three carats each.

All told, Floyd’s rep says the collection ran Floyd between $10-15 million.

Floyd also recently spent over $1 million on a Hublot watch while shopping in Dubai.

See the photo below..

Despite the recent attacks in Maiduguri which left scores dead, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari would “technically defeat” Boko Haram by the self-imposed December 31st deadline.

Minister Mohammed made this statement on Sunday, while addressing members of the press in Lagos. It will be recalled that on Monday morning Maiduguri was hit again by suicide bombings and that the town of Madagali, located in Adamawa State, was also hit by a twin suicide bombing. All told, at least 65 Nigerians have perished in less than 48 hours.

However, Mr. Mohammed argued that the recent attacks could not be compared to the “near war-like” situation experienced only a year ago.

#BBB NEWS| Tyrese Posts An Open Letter To Donald Trump: “I’m Deeply Hurt And Bothered By Your Antics” [PHOTO]

Donald Trump’s controversy-filled run for president has yet another celebrity speaking out against the Republican candidate. In a lengthy Instagram post, Tyrese wrote an open letter to Trump about his “antics” during his trending topic of a campaign.

The singer used a photo of Muslims praying outside of the Trump Tower in New York City, and voiced his personal offense about Trump’s comments against the religious community.

“You’ve offended my #Muslim community, and created racial boundaries and set my people up for hate crimes and to be targeted for bigotry because of the “acts” of some,” he wrote. “Islam is PEACE….. THE ACTS OF SOME of ANY GROUP doesn’t justify you spreading hate towards ALL of my people in the Muslim and or Arab community…. I’m deeply hurt and bothered by your antics and hatred towards my Muslim and Arab people.”

Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, in this interview, speaks on the efforts to recover the nation’s funds looted under the previous administration, saying Nigerians must own the ongoing war against corruption to make it effective.

The war against corruption, can it be described as cosmetic?

The war against corruption that is on-going deserves the encouragement of Nigerians, particularly the victims of corruption – soldiers who were deprived of arms to fight Boko Haram, the people seeking medical attention and could not get, the unemployed masses. Nigerians should own the war because if you simply leave it to government, of course, you cannot remove allegations of prosecutorial selectivity and the rest of them, but Nigerians should insist that there has to be restitution from those who have stolen from our commonwealth, and reduce our people to a poverty stricken lot. Nigerians must be prepared to wage the war much more than the government.

What a time to be Stephen Curry and Serena Williams. The tennis titan and Golden State Warrior were named AP female and male athlete of the year for the dominance in their respective fields.

Williams, who was also one of Vibe’s Magnificent 7, has earned this title three times before. Once in 2002, 2009 and 2013.

In 2015 alone, the 34 year old won both the French and Australian Open as well as Wimbledon, before losing in the U.S. Open Semifinals, which would’ve earned her, her 22nd Grand Slam Title.

Curry, 27, rose to NBA stardom as he led the once downtrodden Golden State Warriors to finals history when they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers last year, cementing his and the teams greatness. When Curry learned of the honor, he humbly accepted.

#BBB NEWS| Oba of Lagos Appears At Court Inquest On Land Dispute, Accuses Officials, Local Rulers Of Greed

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has blamed some officials of the Lagos State Government as well as traditional rulers of the Ibeju-Lekki area of responsibility for the crises besetting the community, especially the deadly conflicts over disputed land.

Oba Akiolu spoke earlier today when he appeared at a coroner’s inquest at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. The inquest is mandated to investigate the causes of crises in the Ibeju-Lekki community culminating in several deaths.

One of the more recent deaths was of Tajudeen Disu, chairman of the Lekki Free Zone that oversees development in the disputed land area.

Giving testimony at the inquest, Oba Akiolu criticized state government officials, saying their greed had fueled the crises. He declared that some state government officials were insincere and blinded by their greed, leading to actions that were against both good conscience and the interests of the residents of the community.

I write with a heavy heart, on this Christmas day, as a result of what is going on under your leadership regarding the Biafra agitation and the leader of the IPOB (Indigenous people of Biafra), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Let me first say that I, as an Igbo person, supported your election and campaign passionately for it on social media, but I am now on neutral grounds, because of the way you are handling the cry for Biafra though I will always support any good strides you are making for the people of Nigeria.

Some of the reasons I supported you are: 1. Your wife said during a pre-election interview that you promised to lead by listening to the concerns of the people and doing what the people want.

2. As a former soldier in the United States Army, I knew that the discipline you have as a retired general of Nigeria Army is what is needed to clean up the corruption that has long retarded the progress of Nigeria.

All is now set for the prosecution of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, and ex-minister of defense Haliru Bello Mohammed and his son, Abbah Mohammed for their role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already filed charges against the duo at a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Though the matter is yet to be assigned to a specific judge, the former minister and his son are most likely to be docked on a 4-count money laundering charge on Tuesday, December 29 or Wednesday, December 30.

#BBB NEWS| Drake Reunites With ‘Degrassi’ Girlfriend Andrea Lewis [PHOTOS]

Drake, formerly known as Jimmy Brooks, seems to have found the time to take a break from perfecting his highly anticipated album, Views From the 6, and spent some of it catching up with his Degrassi co-stars.

Several months ago, Drake reunited with Lauren Collins, Daniel Clark, and Adamo Ruggiero at a screening for a web series and Wednesday he shared a photo of himself spending time with his on-screen love interest Andrea Lewis.

Read more and see photos below.

Future & The Weeknd give us a nice little Christmas gift! Take a listen to “Low Life” after the jump!

Timbaland pulled a track he did with Aaliyah out the stash! Take a listen to “Shakin” below.

Lauryn Hill drop’s a new song for the Christmas Holiday. Listen to “A Cradle In Bethlehem” after the jump!

The wool will be pulled from over the eyes of football fans all over the world when Concussion—a film about the long term effects of repetitive head trauma football players experience, and the NFL’s attempts at keeping it under wraps–hits theaters.

Academy-Award nominated actor, Will Smith plays Dr. Bennett Omalu, an African-born forensic pathologist who, while doing the autopsy on 50-year-old Mike “Iron Mike” Webster of the Pittsburg Steelers, discovers what will later be known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE.

Based off of GQ’s September 2009 story “Game Brain”, film writer and director Peter Landesman chronicles Omalu’s findings, and the not-so veiled attempts the NFL tries to keep his research a secret. One of the many men working against Omalu is Chris Jones played by Hill Harper, who describes himself as the film’s “intellectual villain.”

After announcing the wrong contestant as Miss Universe 2015, and then surviving the wrath of the Internet, Steve Harvey proved he can roll with the punches.

On Christmas Day the Act Like A Woman, Think Like A Man author took to his Instagram to crack a joke on himself.

The Federal Government would on January 1 next year reduce the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N85 per litre.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu broke the news to journalists in the Port Hacourt Refinery Company (PHRC), where he spent Christmas inspecting the plant.

Asked when would the Federal Government release the new price temperate of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulation Agency (PPPRA), he said that he approved the new price for the agency on Thursday.

Pressed to reveal when the new price will become effective, Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said "like I said, we have done a modulation calculation and it is showing us below N87. I imagine that if PPPRA publishes it today, it will become effective immediately. But the 1st of January that is when we are looking at."

#BBB NEWS| Civilian Vigilante Groups Fighting Boko Haram To Be Integrated Into Armed Forces — Defense Minister [PHOTOS]

Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, on Thursday disclosed that some civilians who have been fighting alongside the Joint Task Force against Islamist insurgents will soon be integrated into the armed forces.

Mr. Muhammad Dan-Ali made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State in Maiduguri, the state capital. Nigeria’s Chief of Defense Staff, General G.A. Olanisakin, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall S.B. Abubakar, and other military officers accompanied the minister on the visit.

The minister stated that numerous civilians had supported the military in counter-insurgency operations. He also assured the people of Borno State that the end of terrorist attacks by Boko Haram insurgents would soon come.

“Since President Muhammadu Buhari’s assumption of office, we have gained more ground against Boko Haram terrorists. And I assure you the menace of Boko Haram will soon be over,” Mr. Muhammad Dan-Ali declared.

After revealing his HIV status to world on Matt Lauer back in November, Charlie Sheen is now using his unfortunate situation as a chance to raise awareness and center a focus on research to find better treatment options and a cure.

In an interview with RadarOnline, Sheen opened up about his choice to keep his positive status under wraps for so long and just how he’s been dedicated to finding that cure. He said, “It was shortly afterwards — I think it was the second day — I said to my mom, ‘This disease picked the wrong guy,'” Sheen continued, “If anybody can fight this thing and discover a cure, it’s me. I will exhaust every resource available to me. I will sit with every expert. I will move forward until something’s revealed.”

Read more below..

Pennsylvania’s state government pension system will send Jerry Sandusky a $211,000 check next week to cover payments going back to when it illegally stopped his retirement benefits after the former Penn State assistant football coach was sentenced for child molestation, according to a letter obtained Wednesday by the Associated Press.

The State Employees’ Retirement System told Sandusky lawyer Richard Beran last week that it will mail the check Monday and that Sandusky’s $4,900 monthly benefits will resume in January.

A court ruled on Nov. 13 that the pension system was wrong to classify Sandusky as a university employee at the time of the sexual abuse crimes that were the basis of his pension forfeiture.

It ordered the retroactive payments, along with 6 percent interest, and the pension system did not appeal.

Another day, another plot in the ongoing Rick Ross-50 Cent feud. After Fif filed a $2 Million lawsuit against Rick Ross for using his hit song “In Da Club” on Ross’ #RenzelRemixes mixtape.

The Black Market rapper took to Twitter Thursday night (December 24) to subliminally respond to the latest issue in their tumultuous relationship.

Jeezy has always maintained a voice in the socially conscious realm, whether it was his 2008 hit “My President Is Black” or his views on police brutality. So it was only right that the Atlanta native shared his insight with CNN about pressing matters in the black community.

Following yesterday’s groundbreaking protest at the Mall of America, the “Put On” rapper dived into the occurrence with news anchor Don Lemon.

“I think that if it only took 20 people to get the attention of CNN and the rest of the world, I think they’re on to a great start,” he said. “I support the black lives matter movement. I think the mall could’ve handled it a lot differently because now you got this and it’s going to continue to grow as it should because now we got to raise awareness, and it’s the holidays and they’re still pushing this movement. You have to respect that.”

The Federal Government has plans to concession the management of the Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano airports to private investors.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Lagos during a fact-finding tour of facilities and agencies at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

He was accompanied by the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Muhtar Usman; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Saleh Dunoma; and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Ibrahim Abdulsalam; as well as the Director-General, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, among others.

The minister said the planned concession of the four airports was to guarantee efficiency and good management in view of dwindling resources from the government for infrastructural development in the aviation industry.

Wondaland’s resident dapper don Jidenna is gifting fans with two new songs before 2015 officially ends. “Extraordinaire” provides listeners with a club sound that masks an expertly-hidden positive message regarding being aware of your high levels of dopeness.

“Extraordinaire, ain’t nobody ’round here that’s ordinare…” the “Chiefs” singer croons atop a thumping bass.

“Knickers” delves into a classic, ’20s sound a la The Great Gatsby mixed with current trap-infused stylings, making for a memorable track to ring in 2016.

Jidenna said of the release, “We had a hell of a year. You each deserve to eat, drink, and be swanky during the holy days. As you do, please indulge in a few appetizers…The main course will be served in 2016.”

Check out the new joints below, and be ready for Jidenna’s debut album in the coming year.

J. Cole’s “Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming” special isn’t set to air on HBO until Jan. 9, but ahead of its imminent release, the Fayetteville native is gifting fans with a prelude to the final event.

The “G.O.M.D.” rapper announced a four part mini-documentary that will showcase the process behind 2014 Forest Hills Drive, life on the road, and just an intimate look at the intricacies of Cole, which viewers got a chance to indulge in with the first installment debuting last week.

The visuals are set to drop every Wednesday leading up to the main event on HBO.

“These pieces all document some important moments from the last year of my life and give you a lot of insight into the album rollout process, each act of the Forest Hills Drive tour, the Dollar and a Dream tour (Friday Night Lights edition), and some ill perspective on the inner-workings of my career and the important people that help make all this sh*t happen,” he said in a post on Twitter.

It looks like Rick Ross and 50 Cent’s dispute is headed to court. According to the Wall Street Journal, Fifty is suing the MMG boss for a song that’s featured on his Renzel Remixes mixtape, that debuted in November.

According to the lawsuit, Ross utilized the instrumental and title of “In Da Club” for his project, to which Fifty claims that Rozay illegitimately used his identity to promote and sell his current studio album Black Market.

The “BMF” rapper’s aforementioned project was released in the following weeks, which also prompted Fifty to share his sentiments, primarily on the album’s sales. “Is that a rock or a brick?” he said during a radio interview.

The Somali government in Mogadishu has banned any public celebration of Christmas citing the fact that the holidays are Christian in nature and, therefore, threaten the nation’s Islamic faith.

In 2009, Somalia adopted Sharia law, although Christmas was still occasionally celebrated.

According to the BBC, the security agencies of the country have been placed on alert to stop any “Christmas gatherings”.

Foreigners can freely celebrate the holiday although only in their own domiciles. Hotels and other public areas cannot host celebrations of the holidays.

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Friday, December 25, 2015

Thursday, December 24, 2015